Cold Lake Kid, SASS # 51474

Scenes from the White Pass Narrow gauge railway, following The Trail of "98. Skagway, Alaska. One of the favourite trips in my family. My Mother and Father, SWMBO and Big Red have made trips up there several times. Big Red liked the hostesses!

This is the air drive system and computer that helps HERBIE perform: Hood raises and lowers, the headlights move from side to side, up and down, and if you say disparaging things about him, he will sprinkle on you leg if you are near the rear tires.

My son (AKA Big Red) Ian's HERBIE and the all new interior.

Once they mature, they become quite friendly.

An immature moose, caught raiding the food pantry on a hunting trip.

The Montreal River about 40 miles West of Gowganda, Ontario and about 17 miles up river from the access point to the river.

My home away from home for a week or so, moose hunting. We eat, sleep and live six in there, quite dry and comfortable, thanks to the airtight wood stove. "U" shape bunk beds even a door!

Weather prognosticator is giving us another snow warning. Just got the last of the previous (*^*%#$ cleared up. The winds blew the snow off the roof and a helpful neighbour came by to point out I've lost a shingle on the ridgeline of the roof. It's a two story and there's no way I'm going up there to fix it, so the roof guys got a call. In here 13 1/2 yeas and it was a "20 year shingle roof, but I guess there's no way the guarantee will cover wind damage.. GRUMP. Never mind the lawn! Stay off the driveway! Yer packing the snow down and making it harder to shovel! Dang Kids!

Yes, Clint's character survives the final gun battle with the killer and appears to form a union with the sister of his heart donor and her child. I'll have to dig up my copy of the movie and watch it again.

Not yet. This is a Province* of Ontario election, not National, although the National ruling party is currently embroiled in a leadership race to replace the current fool. We expect a National Election soon after that. The Premier of the Province, a Progressive Conservative, called an early election to obtain a mandate to deal with the USA/Canada tariff situation. * Like one of your States

Still got a lot of snow here, but somehow, we got a wayward Chinook and a lot melted, then the grader BIG street type snowblower and the team of dump trucks arrived and cleared the windrows of ice and snow! The street is now able to allow cars going in opposite directions to pass one another. That was the good news. Bad news: Lost a couple of shingles on the roof and the ridge line cap. This is a two story and at my age I ain't gonna try to fix it myself. Twenty year shingles and 13 years on them. I wonder if the guarantee covers anything? Now I'm off to the Polls to vote in our Provincial Election.

I'm feeling nostalgic today.

We're still in construction, using Match fees as the bank account permits. Upcoming projects include completing an A/C Ticket/Telegraph Office for Clangity Jane, an equipment garage for the riding mower, snow blower etc, permanent covered Loading and Unloading tables, more steel and possibly an expansion of the range shooting bays, if present attendance keeps up and increases any more. The legal Handgun Sale and Transfer Freeze by our current (mis)Government has done little to decrease the illegal use of them by criminals. Once that freeze is lifted, by a new government, we expect to see an exponential rise in members, who will then be able to obtain the necessary SAAs

I WAS competitive a few decades ago, but those days are no long gone. I get out to shoot and try my best to shoot a Clean Match, forgetting about the time. I'm able to shoot at three sorta local venues, including my own, helping "Dawn" develop a "General Store" theme at the Trading Post on my home range, "The Square Circle Wranglers"

We've had almost 80 Cm in the last couple of storms in the last couple of days. And it drifted, becoming illusaq type that the s'blower has to labour getting through. Big Red chopped down the tops of the drifts so the mouth of the 'blower would eat through. The air intakes for the NG furnace, fireplace and On-Demand hot water heater were either covered or close to it. Four hours so far and we still have to clear a path on the rear deck to get to the generator to make sure it can drew air, if needed. Time for a hot coffee and to rest my arthritic knees. That world famous Military man, General Decrepitude, is visiting today.

Glad you're healing and can see the end of you travails. Now don't get cocky!!

That reminded me of an incident when my Father was DWO and had to eat in each mess on his tour. He was dining with the enlisted personnel and was not impressed with the quality of food, the manner in which it was cooked or the general cleanliest of the utensils etc. but the Piece de Resistance came when he almost chocked on the Jello dessert offering. His enlisted tablemates were afraid to touch him since he was an officer, but finally helped him. I was told later his "discussion: with the Air Force "Cook" was epic and a new cook arrived soon after.

I wear hearing aids both ears, Thanks to close up gunshots as an RO; a nitwit that fired a snubby .38Spl. beside my head and an idiot reservist that thought it would be funny to set off an artillery simulator when I was standing beside it. I leave mine in when to provide a good example and show courtesy to the Posse Marshal etc. when they are giving the Safety Brief and Stage Instructions. After that I put them in a pocket carry case and insert plugs to retain what hearing I have left. 70+ years of gunshots , machine gun, cannon and noisy engines play hob with ones hearing. And the damage is all cumulative. Use protection.

Sounds good Jabez. Expect me when you see me. You've been warned!

I'm well and truly drifted in around the house. Big Red and I cleared some of the driveway so he could get out, but the plows haven't been by yet, so the rest can wait until they pass. Vents had to be looked at to ensure they were not blocked with drift snow. Gas furnace and On-Demand gas water heater, so the air intakes and exhausts are only a couple of feet off the ground. Now the knees are talking to me. Well whining more like. And another 15 to 20 cm still to come! And the dang wind can't make up it's mind which way it's coming from; First from the North, then turns South or whirls around and blows powder snow in my face no matter which way I direct the chute. Big Red and I looked like a couple of snow men when we got back in and we only did 1/2 the width of the drive, so he could get out to work. GRUMP. Now where's my coffee?

We had to cancel our "Winter Camp" match this Saturday. The main Man had eye surgery and we are scheduled for a major snowfall; 30 to 40 Cm by Saturday, so we'll have to do some digging out. Thank goodness we have a front end loader and a snow blower. Lefty, our Security Guard, shown here, a few years ago, half drunk and trying to sober up, has been useless in working around the site. He was originally hired to work around the ranch site doing general building maintenance and repairs, cutting firewood etc. but his age and other informalities have prevented that. He does help out on match days. We suspect he has a still around somewhere as there has been rumours of something called "Leftys Likker". Grump on.

Sitting here in sorrow. Lost a good friend, Territorial Governor Rooster Corrigan, AKA Bill Corrigan, a fellow descendant of Irish stock. Stayed here a few times and helped celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Red Storm (Another Red Headed Irisher) and I. God Speed Bill. You will be missed.